May 23, 2006

*For Immediate Release*

Stamford Historical Society To Recognize
History Day Winners At Annual Meeting

The Stamford Historical Society will hold its 2006 annual meeting on Monday, June 19, 7:00 PM, at society headquarters, located at 1508 High Ridge Road. There will be a brief meeting for members to vote on new board members, receive progress, planning and financial reports, and honor this year’s Virginia T. Davis Award winner.

Following the meeting will be a recognition program featuring Stamford’s state-level winners of the 2006 History Day Competition. During the 2005–2006 school year, students locally and across the nation were invited to research topics related to the theme Taking A Stand in History: People, Ideas and Events.

Each year the Stamford Historical Society serves as a sponsor of the local History Day program. Society members are also among the historians, educators and professionals who judge the History Day local district event, held each March. Local winners who place first and second at the state-level competition advance to the National History Day competition, taking place June 11–15, at University of Maryland.

Dr. Richard Harper, society board member and district History Day coordinator, will present Stamford’s state-level winners and their teachers at the June 19 gathering. Winners traditionally receive a complimentary one-year society membership.

Within Junior Group Performance, first place went to Paul Clapps and Jonathan Arditti, Cloonan Middle School, for The Battle of the Alamo: A Futile Struggle for Independence. Kia Valkonen and Margaret Sun, Cloonan Middle School, placed third for Revolution 9(John, Yoko, and the Beatles).

First place for Junior Individual Exhibit went to Adam Siegel, Turn of River Middle School, for Ralph Nader: Auto Safety Crusader. Within Junior Group Exhibit,
Lauren Starr and Alexandra Lewis, Turn of River Middle School, took third place for
The Washington Post During Watergate: Taking a Stand Against the Abuses of Government.

Meghan Caldwell, Cloonan Middle School, won Outstanding Entry in African American History (Junior division) for Redefining the Color Line: Crisis at Central High.

Outstanding Use of Primary Sources (Junior division) went to Lauren Starr and Alexandra Lewis, Turn of River Middle School, for The Washington Post During Watergate: Taking a Stand Against the Abuses in Government. A second Outstanding Exhibit Display of Primary Sources (Junior division) was presented to Adam Siegel, Turn of River Middle School for Ralph Nader: Auto Safety Crusader. Within the Senior division, Daniel Kang, King and Low-Heywood Thomas School, received Outstanding Entry in the Arts, for People and Jazz: A Musical Drive to Action.

To inquire about membership or for more information about society programs, research library operating hours, or the current exhibit: Pride and Patriotism: Stamford's Role in World War II, contact the society at 329-1183.